Animated sounding figure toy



NOV. 25, 1952 E. NUDELMAN ET AL ANIMATED SOUNDING FIGURE TOY Filed May 10, 1950 Q 3W 2 d nw/ 0 5 5/ Patented Nov. 25, 1952 ANIMATED SOUNDING FIGURE TOY Eoina Nudelman, Bayard C. Reed, and John W. Ehemann, Chicago, 111.

Application May 10, 1950, Serial No. 161,174

6 Claims.

Our invention relates to animated toys. More particularly our invention relates to toys which may be in the representation of animals or human beings and which may be animated to simulate certain actions thereof, the said toys when animated producing a characteristic sound coincident therewith.

One of the objects of our invention is the provision of a toy of the foregoing character which is constructed for the production of various amusing combined visual and sound effects.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a toy of the type stated which is simple and inexpensive in structure and which is conveniently and easily operable.

Other and further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof with certain parts in 1 different position of animation.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of details of construction.

Referring to the drawings, our invention is shown as embodied in the representation of a dog and comprises a hollow body portion 20 formed of two complemental sections of suitable plastic material and having integrally formed therewith :a head portion 2| and ear members 22. The rearward interior portion of the body 20 is in the form of a cylindrical chamber 23 in which :is received for reciprocating movement a sound producing means 24, hereinafter to be described.

Pivotally mounted in the head portion 2|, as *on a pin 3| anchored in the ear members 22, is the upper jaw member 26 shaped substantially as .shown in Fig. 5. Integral with the upper jaw member 26 is a rocker arm 28 which is perforated as at 2 9 to receive the supporting pin 3|. As viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, the pivot point of the upper jaw member 26 is at the left end thereof so that the said jaw member 26 tends normally to pivot in a clockwise direction to assume the position as illustrated in Fig. 1. As will be seen clearly in Fig. 5, the upper jaw member 2 6 has an offset portion 33 and an adjacent opening 34 into which projects the lower edge portion 36 of the head portion 2|. Thus, the upper portion of the jaw member 26 overlaps the lower edge portion 36 thereby providing a continuity of surface which enhances the appearance of the figure.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the lower jaw member,

indicated generally by the numeral 31, is formed integrally with the front leg members 38 slightly bent at the knee portions, the jaw portion 39 being formed with a series of teeth and a tongue member 4|. Integrally formed with the lower jaw member 3'! is a cam element 42 shaped substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the said cam element being perforated, as at 43, to receive a supporting pin 44 which is suitably anchored in the walls of the body portion 28. Thus, the lower jaw member 31 is pivotally movable about the axis of pin 44. As will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the cam element 42 has a portion 46 which is adapted to engage with the rocker arm 28 and also has a recessed portion 4'! into which the end portion of rocker arm 28 is received, under certain conditions of operation. The lower jaw member 31 is provided rearwardly thereof with an integral projection 48 which is adapted to engage with the sound producing means 24, hereinafter to be described. As will be seen clearly by reference to Fig. 2, the forward portion of the body 20 is open along the bottom from a point at the open end of the cylindrical portion 23 to a point coinciding with the right hand edges of the depending ear members 22. Thus, clearance is provided for accommodating both the upper and lower jaw members 26 and 31 respectively and leg members 38 in their pivotal travel. It will be apparent that the particular shapes of the ear members 22 serve to conceal the pivotal joints of the elements thereby adding realism to the figure.

Received in the cylindrical chamber 23 is a hollow piston member 24 having an end wall 52 and open at the opposite end thereof to contain a compression spring 5| which normally serves to urge the piston member 24 outwardly or to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. The end wall 52 of the piston member 24 is provided with an aperture in which is received a vibrating reed element 53 of convention-a1 construction and which functions to produce a, sound simulating the bark of a dog when air is passed therethrough. The piston member 24 is adapted for reciproeating movement within the cylindrical chamber 23 and when urged to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, air confined within the cylindrical chamber 23 and piston member 24 is caused to be discharged through the reed 53 to effect vibration thereof to produce a sound.

The operation of our device should be apparent from the foregoing description, but briefly stated it is as follows.

In normal condition the parts assume the relationship as illustrated in Fig. 1. In this position the sprin 5| urges the piston member 24 outwardly or to the right, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Thus, the end wall 52 of the piston member 2 4 is caused to abut the projection 48 moving the lower jaw member 3'! upwardly or in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, so that the upper and lower jaws 26 and 31 are in closed relation. In this position the free end of the rocker arm 28 is received in the recess 41 and therefore the upper jaw member 26 is in its lowermost po sition. In order to actuate the device, the body is held in the hand and the leg members 38 retracted in the same manner as in pulling a trigger on a gun, by using the index finger of the hand. Thus, as the lower jaw member 31 ispivotally moved clockwise, the cam portion 46 engages the rocker arm 28 causin the uppe jaw member 26 to pivot counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, to assume theposition illustrated therein. At the same time, the lower jaw member 31 moves together with the leg members 38 in a clockwise direction effecting an opening or separation of the upper and lower jaw members 26 and 31. Simultaneously, the rearward p-rojection 43 engages the piston wall 52 moving the piston member 25 to the left and effecting a discharge of the air confined within the chamber 23 and piston member 24, through the reed 53 to produce a sound simulatin the bark of a dog. Immediately upon removal of the finger, as from the leg elements 38, the parts are caused by the spring 5! to return to the positions illustrated in Fig. 1. It will be apparent that upon rapid repeated actuations of said leg elements 38, the figure with each bark may be made to open its mouth, thereby baring its teeth and simulating in a highly effective and amusing manner the natural actions of a dog.

The figure may also be animated by resting the same with its leg members on a surface and pressing downwardly and in a slightly forward direction on the back'of the figure. Because of the pivotal mounting of the upper jaw member and the particular shape of the front leg members 38;which are illustrated as being bent rearwardly at the knee portions, such pressure on the'figure will effect animation of the same in the same manner herinabove described.

While the figure has been illustrated as in the representation of a dog, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the same, since the invention is capable of applica- 77 tion toother representations, both of animals and human beir igs'with the vibrating reed being modified to produce a sound characteristic of the particular representation being used.

It will be apparent that when the upper and lower. jaw members are in closed relation, the

facial features and eyes of the figure are such as to present expressions of docility and gentility but when animated so that the upper and lower jaw members areinseparated relation the upper jawmemberswings upwardly to partially cover the eyes and bare the teeth and tongue of the lowerjaw member thereby changing the facial expression to that of anger and wrath which accompanied with characteristic barkin sounds creates interesting and amusing visual and sound 4 member pivota'lly mounted in said head portion, a lower jaw membe pivotally mounted in said head portion, said lower jaw member including integral front leg members, means operatively connecting said upper and lowe jaw members to be engaged by the fingers of the hand so as to effect simultaneous movement thereof, and sound producing means within said hollow body operatively associated with said lower jaw member and operable to produce a sound when said leg members are moved.

2. An animated toy dog adapted to be carried in the hand, said dog comprising a head portion and an integrally formed elongated hollow body including a cylindrical chamber, an upper jaw member pivotally mounted in said head portion, a lower jaw member pivotally mounted in said head portion, said lower jaw member including integral front leg members to be engaged by the fingers of the hand, means operatively connecting said upper and lower jaw members so as to effect simultaneous movement of said jaw members, a piston member slidable in said cylindrical chamber, sound producing means in said body adapted to be actuated by the movement of said piston, and means on said lower jaw member for moving said piston when said front leg members are moved thereby to produce a sound coincident with the movement of said upper and lower jaw members.

3. An animated toy animal adapted to be carried in the hand, said animal comprising a body and a head portion having eye members, an upper jaw member pivotally mounted in said head portion, a lower jaw member pivotally mounted in said head portion, said lower jaw member having downwardly extending front leg members to be engaged by the fingers of the hand, means operatively connecting said upper and lower jaw members so that when said leg members are retracted said upper jaw member will be moved upwardly to cover at least a portion of the eye members and said lower jaw will drop to provide a wide mouth opening.

4. An animated toy animal adapted to be carried in the hand, said animal comprising a body and a head portion having eye members, an upper jaw member pivotally mounted in said head portion, a lower jaw member pivotally associated with said headportion, said lower jaw member having integrallyformed downwardly extending front leg members to be engaged by the fingers of the hand, means operatively connecting said upper and lower jaw members so that when said leg members are retracted said upper jaw member will be moved upwardly to cover at least a portion of theeyemembers and said lower jaw will dropto provide a wide mouth opening, said leg members when released causingosaid upper and lower jaws to, close.

5. An animatedtoy dogadapted to be carried in the hand, said dog comprising a body and a head p rtion having eye members, an upper jaw member pivotally mounted in said head portion, a lower jaw member pivotally associated with said head portion, said lower jaw member having integrally. formed downwardly extending front leg members to be engaged by the fingers of the hand, means operatively connectin said upper and lower jaw members so that when said leg members are retracted said upper jaw member will bemoved upwardly to cover at least a portion of the eye members and said lower jaw will drop, to provide a wide mouth opening, and sound producing means within said. body and operable 5 when said leg members are retracted to produce a sound.

6. An animated toy dog adapted to be carried in the hand, said dog comprising a head portion and an integrally formed elongated body extending rearwardly thereof, said head portion having eye members, an upper jaw member pivotally mounted in said head portion and having a rocker arm, a lower jaw member pivotally mounted in said head portion and having a cam element engaging said rocker arm, front leg members integrally formed with said lower jaw member and adapted to be engaged by the fingers of the hand so that when said leg members are retracted said upper jaw member will be moved upwardly to cover at least a portion of the eye members and said lower jaw will drop to provide a wide mouth opening, said leg members when released causing said upper and lower jaws to close, and sound producing means within said body and operable when said leg members are retracted to produce a sound.

EOINA NUDELMAN. BAYARD C. REED. JOHN W. EHEMANN.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

